Marine Mammal observation data:
Direct observations
ü“Static” oceanographic data
ü Vessel / Aircraft observations
ü Coastal observations
ü Tracking observations
Synthetic GIS layers
ü Instantaneous surface data
ü Interpolated data
ü Distance data
ü Gradient data
Spatial Frameworks                  sampling
0m
2300m
In order to achieve this goal, we need the data.  On the surface, collecting the whale sightings data from direct observations may seem like a pretty simple and easy process, but it certainly has it’s difficulties just like all of the other more high-tech operations.
Direct observations that will define our spatial framework come from:
Static oceanographic data like the bathymetry
The bulk of the data were collected from the vessels
And in the case of the penguin and seal teams only thus far, observations were made using satellite tracking instruments.  Lucky dogs
The synthetic data that we will be using will come as instantaneous surface data from ice images
And most of the other data collected from the ships will be interpolated across the survey grid
Then the are other data like distance data from shore or the shelf break or fronts etc
And finally, gradient data mostly from the bathymetry charts